Rourkela: Kumjharia Upgraded High School has been again nominated for the Swachh Vidyaaya award in the rural category in the state. Last year, the institution had won the award.

The school, which is situated 15 km from here, has a number of tribal students.

"We only have tribal children and no students from the general or the scheduled caste categories. The school started in 1956 with a few students. When I joined in 2004 here as the head master, there were only 200 students. But, today we have 1097 students. Interestingly, at a time when the enrolment is receding in government schools in many areas here we are getting positive response. We are turning back students due to lack of classrooms and seats in the hostel," said the head master of the school Sanjay Samal.

A couple of years ago, Samal took up the responsibility of making this school as a model school as far as cleanliness was concerned. He said: "If you look at the lifestyle of tribal people you will find they are in general very neat and clean. Go to their houses and villages, you find the environment very clean. I thought why not to develop the same idea in the school. It is the students here who actually deserve all the kudos because, quite often they offer suggestions and also sometimes their help to keep the school clean and green. It is the students who to teach the newcomers about cleanliness and teachers just add to their efforts. Sometimes they bring saplings from their homes. Our garden is beautiful because during winter everybody plants flower plants. They too make efforts to maintain the garden."

Apart from the well-maintained gardens, the school has made a mark in keeping the classrooms, urinals, utensil washing place clean and provide potable water.

"We take special care for the urinals. The students help to keep an eye on this issue. We do not have our own water source. We get it from a private source, but the water is cleaned through water purifier machines," said the head master.

The school results have also improved over the years. This year, more than 80 per cent students cleared their high school examination with maximum getting B+ grade. "We have also started promoting games. One of our students, Sandip Kerketta, is playing for the state. As tribal students are little shy, we have started public speaking and other development programmes. During the programme, on every Saturday, students speak before an audience to get rid of the fear. Besides, they are being provided general knowledge and teaching on health and moral aspects," Samal said.